Russia sues Ukraine in London courts

摘要

Russia's dispute with Ukraine stepped up a gear last week when it filed a claim in the High Court in London for full repayment of the unpaid US$3bn Ukraine bond that was due to mature on December 21 last year. Russia made the official filing a day after Ukraine's pro-Western government had narrowly survived a confidence vote in the Kiev parliament. "The timing of this action shows the political motivation behind it," said an adviser on the Ukrainian side. If the current government falls then the US$40bn aid programme it negotiated with the International Monetary Fund, which is currently being reviewed, may also be at risk. That might persuade a new government to look to its Eastern neighbour for help.